Ulster County deputy who shot suspect ID’d in official document as David Hughes

By Freeman staff

Friday, June 6, 2014

KINGSTON >> David Hughes was identified in an application filed by Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright as the Ulster County sheriff’s deputy who shot a suspect in April.

Attempts by the Freeman to obtain the identity of the deputy have been thwarted repeatedly by prosecutors and the Sheriff’s Office, all citing an ongoing investigation. On Friday, though, Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupak supplied the newspaper with an application Carnright filed April 22 requesting a special prosecutor for the case.

In the two-page application to Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams, Carnright stated: “On April 15, 2014 while in the course of his duties as Ulster County Deputy Sheriff, David Hughes discharged his service weapon, stricking [sic] a 20 year old male.”

Explaining his request for special prosecutor, Carnright wrote: “I have had and continue to have personal business dealings with Deputy David Hughes. I am concerned that my relationship with Mr. Hughes could create the appearance of impropriety should my office handle this investigation. As a result, I believe that the interests of justice require that I and my entire staff be disqualified from further participation in this matter.”

In the application, Carnright stated that Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler had agreed to accept the case as a special prosecutor. The Orange County prosecutor’s office on April 28 was assigned to investigate the incident.

Hughes shot Brandon Rifenburg, 20, of 296 Kyserike Road, High Falls, twice in the torso on April 15 after a lengthy high-speed chase that began at about 10:30 p.m. after a car was reported stolen from a home in Marbletown. Authorities have said Rifenburg failed to comply with numerous orders to stop the vehicle as the chase moved through several towns.

After going through two police roadblocks, Rifenburg struck one of the patrol vehicles in pursuit and was forced off the road, Carnright said on April 28. During the arrest, he said, the deputy fired his service revolver and struck Rifenburg twice.

Rifenburg’s name was withheld until April 26, a day after he was discharged from a hospital and charged with multiple crimes: grand larceny, three counts of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of stolen property, all felonies; unlawful fleeing of a police officer, reckless endangerment of property and criminal nuisance, all misdemeanors; and 20 traffic infractions.